All About Acne

This interesting article addresses some of the key issues regarding Acne. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about Acne.

If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole Acne story from informed sources.

About Acne

Acne is the most common skin disease today. In the United States alone, nearly 60 million people are infected with acne, where 85 per cent of teenagers suffer from it.

Acne is a disorder resulting from the action of hormones on the skin’s oil glands (sebaceous glands), which leads to plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions commonly called pimples or zits. Acne lesions usually occur on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders.

Contrary to popular belief, acne is not just a teenager’s disease. It also effects adults and can be upsetting and disfiguring in certain cases. It has a significant economic impact, as people spend a lot of money on non-prescription and prescription treatments and therapies.

Type of Acne

Acne cases vary from mild to severely disfiguring. It ranges from comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) to nodules and cysts. Here are several acne terms that can help you better understand acne.

Lesion — a localized pathological change in a bodily organ or tissue. The lesion may be external (e.g., acne, skin cancer, psoriatic plaque, knife cut), or internal (e.g., lung cancer, arteriosclerosis in a blood vessel, cirrhosis of the liver). This means that by acne lesions we understand a change in the skin caused by the disease. Comedones (whiteheads and blackheads), nodules and cysts are all types of lesions.

Comedo (plural comedones) — A comedo is a sebaceous follicle clogged by sebum, dead cells from inside the sebaceous follicle, tiny hairs, and even bacteria. When a comedo is open at the top, it is usually called a “blackhead” because its topmost layer has a black hue. A closed comedo is usually called a “whitehead” because it appears as a skin-colored or slightly inflamed bulge with a white center. The “whitehead” has a different color than the “blackhead” because the opening of the sebaceous follicle on the skin’s surface is closed or very narrow. You should refrain from squeezing or picking open “blackheads” or “whiteheads” at all times. This is a process best left to a dermatologist and performed under sterile conditions. Tissue injured by squeezing or picking can become a gate to other infections caused by staphylococci, streptococci and other bacteria.

Papule — A papule is defined as a small (5 millimeters or less), solid, usually inflammatory elevation of the skin that does not contain pus. Groups of very small papules and micro-comedones may not be visible, but can be found by touch. A papule is caused by cellular reaction to the progress of the disease.

Pustule — A small inflamed elevation of the skin filled with pus, which is typically made of a combination of white blood cells, dead skin cells and bacteria. A pustule that forms over a sebaceous follicle usually has a hair in the center. Acne pustules that heal without progressing to cystic form leave no scars as a rule.

Macule — The macule is the simplest dermatological lesion. Those left by a healed acne/lesion are usually red or red-pink and have a well-defined border. A macule may persist for days to weeks before disappearing. When a several macules are found together at the same time, they can contribute to the “inflamed face” appearance of acne.

Nodule — The most severe form of acne lesion, a nodule is a large, deep-seated, pus-filled, often painful lump. People affected by nodules are often scarred for the rest of their lives. Nodules require treatment by a physician.

Cyst — A cyst is a closed sac or capsule, usually filled with fluid or semi-solid material, usually white blood cells, dead cells and bacteria. Cystic acne is a type of localized infection formed when oil ducts become clogged and infected. Treatment includes avoiding irritants on the face, including many cleansers and makeups, and in some severe cases steroids, antibiotics, or other medications. Systemic therapy with isotretinoin is considered to be the only effective treatment for cystic acne. Cystic acne can cause permanent scarring in severe cases.

Now you can be a confident expert on Acne. OK, maybe not an expert. But you should have something to bring to the table next time you join a discussion on Acne.

These short minutes of reading, you are able to know some of the common type of acne.

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Acne is a very common skin disorder that causes pimples. These pimples can occur on the upper part of the body and most teenagers seem to have acne on the  face and neck as well as on the chest and shoulders. People of all ages an get acne but it is most common among teens and young adults. Although acne is not a serious threat to your health, it is unsightly and it can cause scarring.

If you suffer from acne then you should be made aware of the fact that there is acne medication on the market that will help to clear up and control the outbreak. You can find medicines and creams at your local drug store or you could visit your family physician to have strong medications prescribed to you.

Acne control comes in many forms. You should be sure to keep your face as clean as possible and to wash the affected areas at least twice daily using a medicated skin cleaner that is designed for acne. It is also very important not to touch the acne any more than necessary as you do not want to cause more of the pores on your skin to clog with oils and dirt which will only make the acne spread even further.

A great natural acne treatment consists of doing an exfoliating procedure that will remove dull and dead skin cells. You can purchase natural exfoliates at most drug stores. Be sure to choose one that is designed to be used on sensitive skin. If you exfoliate one time every week you should be able to keep the acne from worsening. 

You can also apply benzoyl peroxide to the acne or use one of the over-the-counter acne medications such as Clearasil or Stri-Dex. If you find that you have deeper blemishes such as nodules and cysts, then you are in danger of scars developing so you should seek the help of a physician. Your doctor can prescribe oral antibiotics to kick start the healing process and he may even suggest that you allow hi to drain the larger pimples and cysts.

Keep in mind that most acne treatments take time. You can expect six to eight weeks to pass before you start to notice significant improvements. If you discover that your acne has not improved in this amount of time then perhaps your doctor will want you to take an oral retinoid. You should be sure to visit your doctor if your acne is embarrassing and if it is causing you to avoid social situations such as dates and parties.

If you suffer from acne then you should be made aware of the fact that there is Acne medication on the market that will help to clear up and control the outbreak. A great natural Acne treatment consists of doing an exfoliating procedure that will remove dull and dead skin cells.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/acne-articles/acne-the-unwanted-skin-condition-1626372.html

There are several acne types that differ through the severity of the symptoms and through the area of the body that they affect. Thus, there are acne vulgaris, acne rosacea, acne conglobata, gram-negative folliculitis, acne fulminans, and pyoderma faciale. Out of these, acne vulgaris represents the most common form of acne.

Each acne types is characterized by a certain variety of pimples or skin bumps. Comedones, for example, are among the most frequently observed skin bumps. These include black heads and white heads. The face, and especially the nose, is the most common areas where comedones appear. White heads, black heads and papules are signs that characterize mild to moderate forms of acne vulgaris, while nodules and cysts characterize severe forms of acne vulgaris.

Pustules, on the other side, are skin bumps that have white blood cells and bacteria. These are common in a type of acne vulgaris that is named nodulocystic acne. However, the main characteristic for this acne types are nodules and cysts. The cysts contain dead skin, white blood cells and bacteria. These affect the deeper layers of the skin, and as well as scars, they are harder to treat. This is why it is very important to ask for medical advice. The dermatologist will recommend some prescription medication that helps people get rid of acne. In fact, people are recommended to talk to a dermatologist about their problem, regardless of the acne types.

Acne vulgaris and acne rosacea are so similar that people confuse them pretty often. Acne rosacea is known to affect mostly adults of age 30 or more. Cheeks, nose, forehead and chin are the areas that are commonly affected by this type of acne. While blackheads are a common characteristic of acne vulgaris, acne rosacea does not features such skin bumps. What makes this  acne types different from the other ones is the fact that blood vessels become more visible on the skin. It is advisable to treat this skin condition as soon as it is discovered, as otherwise people may experience rhinophyma, which is better known as growth of excessive tissue around the nose.

Acne conglobata is characterized by many great lesions that are linked. Blackheads are also present in great numbers. The scars that are produced by this particular type of acne are severe and irrevocable. These will disfigure the faces of the persons who suffer from acne, so it is imperative to look for medical advice and for treatment options. The affected areas are the face, chest, back, buttocks, upper arms and thighs. Most of the persons who have acne conglobata are aged 18 to 30.

Acne fulminans is more common in young men. It resembles acne conglobata, but it develops much faster. Nodules, cysts and even skin ulcers are typical for this acne types. As well as the aforementioned variety of acne, acne fulminans leads to very serious scars. Antibiotics do not seem to work on acne fulminans, but oral steroids do. 

Find out about an entire skin care management system that finds the source of your acne and not only heals the blemishes you have, but also treats future pimple outbreaks that you don’t even see yet!

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